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Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyer College

In 1999, I was very fortunate to be invited by Gerry Spence to spend a month at his ranch located just north of DuBois, Wyoming, to be a student and to graduate from the Trial Lawyers College.

The college, sometimes known as TLC, was started by Gerry and his former law partner and Wyoming Supreme Court Chief Justice, Bob Rose.

To be accepted, you had to promise to Gerry that you did not represent insurance companies or big business. It is a college only for "people's lawyers".

While on the ranch, no suits, ties or arrogant lawyer attitudes were allowed. We did chores and cleaned our own rooms. We took turns cleaning the bathroom. We lived in dorm rooms on the first floor of the big barn, with our classroom on the upper floor.

One of the best lessons taught by Gerry is about telling the truth. This means, if you are a lawyer with a tough case, take your problem to the jury. Tell them the truth. Don't hide any facts. Tell the jury the good, the bad and the ugly.

And, Gerry taught us that it is OK to tell the jury about our own "fears" as lawyers with a huge responsibility to our client who is counting on us to do a good job for them.